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lindsayaunderwood's review against another edition
4.0
Very cool book about the ancient Roman Empire, rise of Caesar (Tavius - Julius Caesar's nephew), and Livia, his incredibly bold and powerful wife.
katykelly's review against another edition
4.0
Enjoyable and thought-provoking account of the power behind the Roman throne
Livia, whom I only know from the book and TV series I Claudius, is here given her own voice and chance to influence her own lasting image by telling her own story - from the adolescent given in marriage to an older Roman to eventual wife of the Emperor, mother and powerful entity in the world of Rome in its heyday.
Known through Robert Graves work as a potential poisoner and power-hungry matriarch, here she is just a girl, a young woman, forced to grow up quickly and assume a role in order to protect herself and those she cares about.
Speaking to us in the first person, real history is blended with a fictionalised account of her falling in love, her children, the maladies and trials she goes through, and how she and the love of her life maintain their positions in a time of flux, of savage backstabbing (literally) and jockeying for favour and power.
Her voice is gauche (and nicely narrated on the audiobook to be smart yet still humble), she grows through the book gently from unaware child to protective mother and wife. I enjoyed the look at behind-the-scenes First Citizen lives, and the history included that gives glimpses into the trials and tribulations of life back then.
I wanted the book to take Livia's story further really, to describe her later years in more detail, it only takes us to a very early part in her long life. The author makes it clear enough that she sees Livia as unfairly represented in many accounts of her, though her own version leaves room for different interpretations of her actions and character.
I am not overly familiar with either Livia herself or Roman history, but this book made me curious to examine both further.
An enjoyable account of a real and important female figure in history, worth a read.
Livia, whom I only know from the book and TV series I Claudius, is here given her own voice and chance to influence her own lasting image by telling her own story - from the adolescent given in marriage to an older Roman to eventual wife of the Emperor, mother and powerful entity in the world of Rome in its heyday.
Known through Robert Graves work as a potential poisoner and power-hungry matriarch, here she is just a girl, a young woman, forced to grow up quickly and assume a role in order to protect herself and those she cares about.
Speaking to us in the first person, real history is blended with a fictionalised account of her falling in love, her children, the maladies and trials she goes through, and how she and the love of her life maintain their positions in a time of flux, of savage backstabbing (literally) and jockeying for favour and power.
Her voice is gauche (and nicely narrated on the audiobook to be smart yet still humble), she grows through the book gently from unaware child to protective mother and wife. I enjoyed the look at behind-the-scenes First Citizen lives, and the history included that gives glimpses into the trials and tribulations of life back then.
I wanted the book to take Livia's story further really, to describe her later years in more detail, it only takes us to a very early part in her long life. The author makes it clear enough that she sees Livia as unfairly represented in many accounts of her, though her own version leaves room for different interpretations of her actions and character.
I am not overly familiar with either Livia herself or Roman history, but this book made me curious to examine both further.
An enjoyable account of a real and important female figure in history, worth a read.
rayarriz's review against another edition
4.0
In simple English, Phyllis Smith tells the story of Rome's most powerful woman. (Undoubtedly the most powerful woman of all times in ancient Rome, besides Cornelia Gracchi or Agrippina the Younger. )
It's historically accurate, and although I already knew the whole story of the Roman Republic's demise, I hung on until the end. Livia has been portrayed in different ways, usually as ruthless and tyrannical.
What her true motives were, we'll never know. Smith chooses to depict her as a woman who cares solely for the good of Rome, and Octavianus' welfare. She does not grasp for power, but she knows that power enables her to accomplish the things needed to be done. In short, Livia is a patriot. As predicted, she is the mother of great sons, Tiberius, who later becomes emperor, and Drusus, an outstanding general.
It was rumored she poisoned Augustus; Smith potrays a woman deeply in love with her husband, not at all ready to dispose him to place her son on the throne. Because much of the book focuses on the relationship between Livia and Augustus, I would say it is a more of an historical romance rather than simply historical fiction. Overall, pretty good story.
It's historically accurate, and although I already knew the whole story of the Roman Republic's demise, I hung on until the end. Livia has been portrayed in different ways, usually as ruthless and tyrannical.
What her true motives were, we'll never know. Smith chooses to depict her as a woman who cares solely for the good of Rome, and Octavianus' welfare. She does not grasp for power, but she knows that power enables her to accomplish the things needed to be done. In short, Livia is a patriot. As predicted, she is the mother of great sons, Tiberius, who later becomes emperor, and Drusus, an outstanding general.
It was rumored she poisoned Augustus; Smith potrays a woman deeply in love with her husband, not at all ready to dispose him to place her son on the throne. Because much of the book focuses on the relationship between Livia and Augustus, I would say it is a more of an historical romance rather than simply historical fiction. Overall, pretty good story.
cazxxx's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
3.25
juliardye's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. Interesting tale but was a bit slow in places. Livia was a bit unlikable too which made reading a challenge at times. I liked the author's notes at the end outlining some of the facts she used in her fictional account.
snowblu3's review against another edition
4.0
The first Kindle First book I got that I fully read, and loved. I just wish it was longer.
par4dox's review against another edition
3.0
I just kinda got bored of reading near the end, so on to the next book
marvelmama19's review against another edition
4.0
Not nearly as good as I, Claudius, but still a good read. Engrossing, reasonably well-written. I just wish it could have been richer in content and style.